Chapter 2

At dinner, Felicia complimented me, saying my cooking was as delicious as ever. She ate with apparent enjoyment.

I watched her as she replied to messages on her phone, the smile on my face not reaching my eyes. No matter how good I was to her, it didn't stop her from seeking out another man.

Not long after finishing her meal, Felicia went to bed. I picked up her phone and keyed in the password—her birthday. Pinned to the top of her chat list was one Derek Hoole. Her chat with me had long been buried so deep that I couldn't even find it on the homepage.

I opened her conversation with Derek and saw her calling him "honey," a title that should've belonged to me but was now being used on someone else. Her messages were like a knife to my eyes.

Felicia: [Ugh, Marcus actually thought to turn off the circuit. Our honeymoon plans are delayed again.]

Felicia: [He's so annoying! Why won't he just die already? Derek, I just want to be with you right now.]

Derek: [It's okay, Felicia. As long as our hearts are one, we're already together. As for him, we'll wait for our next chance.]

Their chat history went back two months. At first, they were just discussing art, but over time, their conversations became increasingly flirtatious and explicit. Felicia shared every little detail of her day with Derek, a stark contrast to the cold and distant demeanor she showed me. Apart from necessary communication, we barely talked anymore.

Unbelievable. This whole thing was unbelievable!

Reading their messages, I felt a rage building in my chest. I had paid for Felicia to take art classes, and this was how she repaid me.

Without hesitation, I backed up their chat history to my cloud drive. After some more scrolling, I found a crucial piece of information.

Derek: [Shall we continue painting tomorrow?]

Felicia: [Oh, Derek, you're so naughty!]

I frowned. Painting? What were they painting? Why would Felicia react like that over a regular painting? Something told me this was more than it seemed.

The next day, Felicia got up early, carefully doing her makeup at her vanity. She put on her favorite pink dress and small pearl earrings, then cheerfully called out, "I'm off to class!" She slipped into her heels and skipped out the door.

Even that little farewell seemed like a token gesture, a sliver of kindness given to me out of the joy she felt about meeting Derek.

I quietly followed Felicia, watching as she first headed to the art studio and then entered Derek's apartment. His studio, where he taught students, was right next to his apartment. He rented the two units side by side.

I waited, thinking about how I could get in without being noticed. Just then, a food delivery guy walked up to the door.

"Is this for Unit 608?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied.

I took the delivery from him. "I'll take it."

I also handed him 30 dollars, buying his uniform and mask. With the food in hand, I knocked on the door.

Felicia's familiar voice came from inside. "I said to leave the food at the door."

Then, a soft man's voice followed. "It's fine, Felicia. I'll get it."

Derek opened the door, and my eyes were immediately drawn to a splash of pink on the floor. It was Felicia's dress, the one she wore out this morning. I caught a glimpse through the crack of the door and saw the edge of a canvas. On it, a woman was standing with birthday suit on a balcony.

My mind went blank. I didn't even remember how I got downstairs. I had watched Felicia walk into that apartment. I had my suspicions about what they might be doing, but I never imagined it would be this shocking.

Felicia was posing as topless model for Derek?

I sat on the bench outside for over two hours, the wind blowing in my face. The security guard noticed me sitting there motionless and offered me a cigarette.

"Young man, everyone goes through tough times. You just have to work through it. Don't let it get to you," he comforted.

The cigarette smoke stung my eyes, and I let out a tear. After collecting myself, I went back upstairs and knocked on the door. "Mr. Hoole, I'm here to pick up Felicia."